Don’t Waste Food! These You Can Eat After Their Expiry Date

Do you realize how much food we throw away? That too because they have gone beyond the best-before date? I deliberately use the term throw away, because contrary to popular belief, most food can be eaten well after that. This is true of the western world as a whole. In UK itself an estimated 7 million tons of food and drink is thrown away every year. That is about 19% of what is bought.

During a campaign, Love Food Hate Waste, they said that if the average family thought a little before throwing things away, they could save £60 or about $100 a month! Imagine what it must be like in the US. As a matter of fact the managers of several supermarkets have admitted that they regularly ignore expiry dates at home. According to them, if something smells good, it is good.

Instead of going by the label and mindlessly throwing away foodstuff it is wise to use your eyes, nose and hands and also some good ol’ common sense. That will save you a lot of money, and you would be displaying social responsibility.

Let us see how we can judge for ourselves if certain foods have gone bad or not.

Tomatoes

You will be surprised to know that tomatoes a week or so past their best-before date are the best. Tomatoes, over time, grow sweeter and not starchier. The softer and more wrinkled the better. Throw them away only if they have an alcoholic smell, or have gone moldy or watery.

Fish Fillets

Filleted fresh fish stay edible up to four weeks if kept refrigerated and below five degrees. However the taste suffers. As it takes about three weeks to get to the supermarket you need to use your judgment.Fish should look translucent with glossy skin, and the flesh should be firm and springy with no smell. If it looks opaque, feels soggy and has a queer smell, throw it away.

Pate and Sausages

Unlike other foods, these do not give you much allowance. If it looks moldy or dry, or the sausages get darker in color it’s time to get rid of them. In any case, as a rule you should not go beyond 1 day after the expiry date.

Eggs

Eggs generally stay good for weeks after their best-before date. The classic way to check if an egg is good or not is to put it in a glass of water. If it sinks it’s all right. If it floats it is not.

Beef

If it doesn’t smell rotten, it’s usually good. However, if it’s a few weeks past the use=before date, it should be cooked well.

Chicken

Chicken does not stay good very long. If it’s gone bad it will have an unpleasant smell. If you have doubts, wash it well before you smell it again. Sometimes it’s only the packaging. One or two days after expiry is usually safe.

Ice cream

Ice cream tends to deteriorate even in the freezer especially if it is full-cream. If it smells sour or like yoghurt or cheesy, throw it away.

Yoghurt

Yoghurt is intrinsically quite stable. You can often have it even after a few weeks. However if it has even a speck of mold, discard it.

Flour and Spices

These do not go bad, if sterilized. Otherwise they maycontain the eggs of mites, which after a time hatch, and the insects start burrowing into it. You will notice tiny pock marks where they have been burrowing.

Now you have a handy guide to check if most food should really be thrown away or not. Use it wisely and you would be surprised how much money you save. And think about the countless millions in under developed countries who go without even two square meals a day. Do you really want to waste so much food?

http://www.aartiinformatics.com/health/dont-waste-food-these-you-can-eat-after-their-expiry-date/Don’t Waste Food! These You Can Eat After Their Expiry Datehttp://www.aartiinformatics.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Don’t-Waste-Food.jpghttp://www.aartiinformatics.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Don’t-Waste-Food-300x300.jpg2014-06-16T07:03:57+00:00Aarti InformaticsHEALTHVITAMINSfood which can use after expiration,use food after expirationDo you realize how much food we throw away? That too because they have gone beyond the best-before date? I deliberately use the term throw away, because contrary to popular belief, most food can be eaten well after that. This is true of the western world as a whole....Aarti InformaticsAartiDaartiinformatics@gmail.comAdministratorAarti Informatics lead in development and invention of the industry’s most advanced information technologies, including computer systems, web-based solutions & business strategies.Aarti Informatics